--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the key thing is that Iraq, while…" description: "\"But the key thing is that Iraq, while it's got very large oil reserves, has marginalized itself as an oil exporter and these days its exports are only ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/daniel-yergin-15406_arabia_but-the-key-thing-is-that-iraq-while-it_2418158.jpg" --- # But the key thing is that Iraq, while it's got very large… ![“But the key thing is that Iraq, while it's got very large oil reserves, has marginalized itself as an oil exporter and these days its exports are only about one tenth that of neighboring Saudi Arabia.” quote by Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/daniel-yergin-15406_arabia_but-the-key-thing-is-that-iraq-while-it_2418158.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/daniel-yergin-15406_arabia_but-the-key-thing-is-that-iraq-while-it_2418158.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/daniel-yergin-15406_arabia_but-the-key-thing-is-that-iraq-while-it_2418158.jpg) > “But the key thing is that Iraq, while it's got very large oil reserves, has marginalized itself as an oil exporter and these days its exports are only about one tenth that of neighboring Saudi Arabia.” [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Iraq’s large oil reserves are underutilized, making its export volume far lower than neighboring Saudi Arabia. **In simple terms:** Iraq’s oil is abundant but its exports are low. Key Takeaway Address structural barriers to increase oil export capacity. Themes energy economics geopolitics resource management Mood analytical concise Type economic geopolitical When to use this quote - policy reform - infrastructure investment - export strategy Key Concepts oil production market access regional competition Questions to Reflect On - What reforms could boost Iraq’s oil exports? - How does regional competition shape energy policy? A Different Perspective Political instability and infrastructure deficits limit potential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arabia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arabia/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Reserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reserves/) ## Related quotes > [After the invasion of Afghanistan, when the focus suddenly turned toward Iraq, I suddenly thought, 'What on earth had Iraq got to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-gun/after-the-invasion-of-afghanistan-when-the-focus-suddenly-turned/) [Katharine Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-gun/) > [According to one study by the United States Geological survey, 86 percent of oil reserves in the United States are the result not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/according-to-one-study-by-the-united-states-geological-survey-86/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [The U.S. only has 20 billion barrels of oil in reserve. 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